Questioning Faith

I recently contacted my financial advisor to ask her to explain a strategic document in my plan. Her reply was, “Sure, but why?” We had discussed this document often; however, something made me wary, and I needed reassurance. My advisor was confused as to why I wanted to discuss this document again. She has told me many times that if she was not nervous about the financial landscape, I need not be.

My situation reminds me of the story in Mark 4:35-41. After a long day of teaching to the crowd, Jesus directed his disciples to set sail for the opposite shore. Jesus fell asleep. When a tremendous storm arose during the voyage, the disciples woke Jesus. He rebuked the winds and silenced the sea. Then in verse 40 he said: “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Those two questions confuse me. Why should the disciples have faith that the boat would not capsize? Why did their fear of drowning indicate a lack of faith? Jesus was obviously in a deep sleep since the storm did not awaken him. Didn’t they need to activate the power, that is, awaken Jesus, for the power to work? OR, as in the case of my financial advisor, did Jesus sleeping deeply through this storm indicate that he was not concerned, so the disciples should not have been? Was his calm, that is, his deep sleep, an indication that the disciples should be calm if they trusted him? Should they have known by all that Jesus had said and done that they would be safe with him even when he was asleep?

I wanted to understand this story, particularly those two questions of faith. What is my AHA from Mark 4:35-41? To get a deeper understanding, I conducted further study.[1] First, some facts I gleaned from my research:

• The geography of the Sea of Galilee made it susceptible to sudden, unpredictable storms.
• The disciples were experienced fishermen and boatmen. They would have been accustomed to navigating on the Sea of Galilee in all conditions.
• Jesus was in such a deep slumber on the boat that the violent storm—the pitching of the boat, the waves crashing against the boat, nor the shouts of the men as they maneuvered the vessel—did not awaken him.

I read several proposals for why Jesus asked those two questions. Here are synopses of them.

1. Jesus’ calm was enough. Jesus’ sleep was like my advisor’s lack of panic. Jesus’ presence in the boat, sleeping undisturbed by the storm should have reassured the disciples. The disciples should have had faith in their survival based on his calm. Instead, their lack of calm indicated a lack of faith in Jesus even when he was with them. Do I have faith that Jesus is present in my life? Do I have faith that Jesus’ presence is enough?
2. Jesus’ directive—“Let us go across to the other side.”—was absolute. The disciples should have trusted that his directive meant their goal, the opposite shore, was assured. Jesus did not equivocate: “Let’s try to get to the other side.” or “Head for the opposite shore. I think we can make it.” Did they lack faith that what Jesus said was conclusive? Do I have faith to believe God’s Word? Do I have faith to trust God’s Word?
3. Jesus was the Messiah. If they believed in his mission as the Messiah, they should have had faith that God would not let Jesus perish before his work was complete. These disciples were Jews and would have known the prophecies about the Messiah. Jesus had mentioned his destiny. Death on the Sea of Galilee was not in God’s plans for Jesus. Do I have faith that God makes a way for His plans to come to fruition? Do I trust that when God directs me He will provide a way to reach that goal? Do I have faith in God to get out of my own way?
4. Jesus’ love was enough. The disciples’ awakening cry to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” was not a cry of distress; they were excellent boatmen and knew what to do. Instead, they were rebuking Jesus for not helping them when they needed him. Having spent so much time with Jesus, they should have known and felt his love for them. Did their focus on self-preservation blind them to Jesus’ care for them? Do I have faith that God loves and cares for me even though I feel alone or overwhelmed?
5. Jesus strengthens faith. Jesus’ questions were not critical, but rhetorical. At the storm’s worst, the disciples had difficulty maneuvering the boat in the storm, so they had to call out to Jesus. Having seen Jesus perform other miracles, did the disciples rely on their faith to call on him? Did Jesus wait for this opportunity to increase their faith by performing the miracle? Do I have faith to call to Jesus when I need him most? Do I have faith that he will respond? Can I wait for that response?

Ironically, I received my AHA, but it was not what I expected…as usual. My AHA became less about why Jesus asked the disciples those questions and more about examining my own level of faith. When I began composing this, the first-person questions in each of the five synopses were rhetorical. However, during the writing of this blog, I had a health scare that made those questions less rhetorical and more stark self-examination. How will I respond when I must rely on my faith in my God? Can my faith sustain my relationship with God when I am scared? Will fear shake my faith?

My AHA reminds me that my faith must be grounded in what I have learned from Mark 4:35-41:

God is present in my life.	John 14:23: Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
God’s Word is enough.	Isaiah 55:11: so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
God’s plans will be fulfilled.	Ephesians 2:10: For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we may walk in them.
God cares and loves me.	1 John 4:10-11: In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
God will strengthen my faith.	Luke 17:5-6: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Prayer: Thank you Lord for loving me. For keeping me calm. For directing my path. For fortifying my faith. I will continue to praise your name forever. Finish by praying Psalm 40.

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[1] My study included the notes in my NIV Study Bible and AMP Holy Bible. I read online commentaries, including the Enduring Word Commentary, Matthew Henry’s Commentary in BibleGateway, The Working Preacher, and a number of commentaries on BibleHub.